1941: Counter Attack

Game Details:

"1941: Counterattack" optimizes and upgrades the graphics and system based on the style of its predecessors "1942" and "1943", making it more impactful. The core gameplay is a typical "clear screen and dodge bullets" vertical scrolling shooter. Players control the aircraft's movement, launch the main weapon, and use special weapons or shields to counter the swarms of enemy aircraft and ground fire.

This game features a two-player cooperative mode, where players can choose the P-38 or Mosquito bomber, with the two aircraft having different main weapon firing trajectories and special weapon effects. The game's flow is tightly designed, with each level filled with creative enemy configurations and huge bosses, such as various aircraft carriers, giant bombers, and the final fortress. The game's energy system allows players to enhance their firepower by picking up items, including upgrading the main weapon level, obtaining homing missiles or scatter shots, and at the same time, players can release a powerful "Mega Crush" by collecting special energy balls to clear the screen and save their lives in critical moments. Its excellent sense of impact and rhythmic level design make it one of the most popular air combat shooting games in arcades of the 90s.

Game Walkthrough:

"1941: Counterattack" is a hardcore arcade shooting game, to clear the game and get high scores, it's not enough to simply dodge bullets, resource management and route planning are crucial.

1. Weapon Upgrade and Selection Strategy

• Main Weapon Upgrade: The main weapon enhancement items in the game are letter capsules (P, M, S, etc.), which change cyclically. P (is the most basic enhancement), M is homing missiles, and S is fan-shaped scatter shots. Generally, M (homing missiles) is the most efficient when dealing with a large number of moving small enemy aircraft, while S (scatter) is more suitable for dealing with large enemies or those located at the edge of the screen. When fighting the final boss, try to maintain the highest firepower.
• Thunder Impact: Your B button special weapon is the key to saving your life and clearing the screen. Do not use it lightly! It can eliminate all bullets on the screen and cause massive damage to enemies. The correct usage is when you are caught in a bullet hell corner where there is no escape, or when you are trying to gain precious output time in a Boss battle. Remember, the stock of special weapons is limited, so be sure to exert its maximum value at critical moments.

2. Fuel Tank (Energy) and Health Management

• Durability System: The game's health is a "fuel tank system", although it's not one-hit-kill, but the game ends when the energy runs out. The number of energy replenishment items (fuel tanks) that drop is limited. In the level, prioritize eating the energy replenishment to maintain the health line, rather than just pursuing scores.
• Suicide Screen Clearing: This is an advanced skill in old-fashioned arcades. In some levels, if you know you are about to lose too much blood, or the next level is very difficult, you can consider intentionally losing an airplane (i.e. the fuel tank runs out) before certain score points that reward extra lives (Extra Life), because the new airplane after resurrection will come with a full fuel tank, which is equivalent to exchanging a life for full health and a higher survival rate.

3. Level Route and Scoring Skills

• Hidden Items: Like many Capcom arcade games, this game hides many hidden scoring items. Try firing your main weapon at some specific obstacles or ground targets, and you may hit score cards, coins, and other items. High scores are an important way to get extra lives (every time a certain score is reached).
• Aim for Priority Targets: When facing enemy formations, do not only hit the nearest enemies. Prioritize clearing enemies on both sides of the screen that launch slow or dense barrages to ensure the aircraft's activity space. When attacking a Boss, the weak points of many Bosses will drop high-scoring items after being destroyed, but at the same time, it will also make the Boss enter a more berserk attack mode, requiring players to weigh the risks and benefits.
• Boss Battles: Most bosses have fixed attack patterns. Observing and learning their attack cycles and finding the bullet hell's safe zone or avoidable route is the only way to defeat them. Don't be impatient, being steady and solid is the key.